Trimming machine



Aug. 27, 1946.

w. s. REYNOLDS 'IRIIIING MACHINE Fil'ed lay a, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 1 WARREN s. REY/VOL 0s BY M ENT w. s.. REYNOLDS TRIIDIING' MACHINE Aug. 27, 1946;

Filed w s. 1944 4 sheets-sheet? INVENTOR.

Aug. 27, 1946. w. s. REYNOLDS TRIMMING MACHINE Filed Ma s, 1944 4 She eis-Shee t 3 I INVENTOR. h ARRE N 8. REY/VOLOS I A? NT 1946- w. s. REYNOLDS 2,406,562

' TRIMMING MACHINE I v Fiied lay a, 1944 '4 Sheets Sheet 4 Page INVENTOR.

- MRREA/ s. HEY/V0405" Patented Aug. 27, 1946 7 UNITED STATES PATENT -OFFICE 2,406,562 I I I TRIMMING MACHINE Warren S. Reynolds, Stratford, Conn, as's'iglior to Remin ton Arms Company, Inc, Bridgeport, 001111., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationMay' c, 1944, Serial Nit- 534.509

.6 Claims. (01. 32-2) The present invention relates to a trimming machine, and, more-especially, to an improved machine for trimming ammunition components such as primer cups and elements of similar shape.

In general, percussion Caps or detonators comprise metal cup-shaped members containing an anvil and explosion initiating agents, the latter being very sensitive to shock and friction so that they can be readily brought toignition by such means. i I i Percussion caps orprimers are widely used in small arms ammunition for igniting the propel lent powder in a cartridge case, the ignition of which develops a relatively well sustained but not excessive pressure on the base of the projectile. The primer is seated in a pocket in the head of a cartridge case and must'be made accurately to diameter to' prevent an escape of gas between the cup and the walls of its pocket, suchescape being knownas blow back when the cartridge is fired. Moreoventhe head of the cup must be sufilciently thick so that it will not be punctured by a-firing pin. The outside of the cup head-must be a predetermined depth below the face of the shell head, and to insure propertransmission of the firing pin blow, the primer cup mouth must seat onthe base of the primer pocket, hencein manufacture the'height oi the cup must be accurately controlled. I 7

The present invention relates to a new and improved means for trimmingv primer cups-or similaiarticles to a predetermined overall? length within a tolerance of not over .001 inch from cup to cup or in different parts of the circumferenceof any cup, whereby all cups will seat firmly and securely on: the bottoms of their pockets and at the same time pass depthgauge inspection;

object of the invention is to-provide a means for supporting and trimming aprimer cup. A further objectis to provide improved means for supporting a primer: cup and moving the cup into engagement with trimming means.- A I iurt-her object is to trim aprimer cup by supporting. and rotating the cup frictionally between. two rapidly revolving spindles and movingthe rapidly revolving. cupinto engagement with the dutter blade. A still further object is to trim a primer cup to apredetermined overall length by supporting the cupon a resiliently mounted spindle and engaging the head of the cup by a second spindle which moves the cup a; predetermined distance with respect to a. fixedcutter blade.

These and other objects, features and advantages oi the invention will'be more fully described in the following specification which is descriptive of the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

i It will be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment shown or to the specific use described, but is comprehensive of all modifications thereofwithin the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings: g Fig. 1 is a front; elevation of the primer cup trimming machine including the hopper but with the toolholder removed.

Fig. 1a is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the tool holder and discharge chute. I A Fig. 2 is an end elevation in the direction of lines 2-2' of- Fig. 1. I

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the trimming machine of Fig. 1 including the tool holder and discharge chute.

Fig.- -'3'a is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the spindles, cutting tool, hopper chute and feed means.

Fig..- i' is an enlarged fragmentary side eleva- 7 jaw being in its advanced-- position. 1

. Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary from; elev a tion-partly in section of the transfer means, hopperchute and stripper shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 4, but with the transfer jaw in. its normal or retracted position.

Fig. 'i is aplan view of the hopper.

Fig. 8 is a. section on line 8-8 of Fig.7.

Fig. 94 a timing. diagram of the cycles of open ati'on of the 'feed' spindle and clip transfer jaw.

Referring to the drawings, the trimming ma? chine of this invention comprises a base in which in the present embodiment is a casting having substantially the shape of a truncated rectangular pyramid provided". with front and rear faces H a d l2respectively'and eflds I3 and r4. Each end is provided with an apertures boss I 5 for a bearing 6 which are adapted to rotatab1ysup port opposite ends of'a main drive shaft [1. The base H1 is mounted on the top l8 of a substantially rectangular tabl comprising. vertical-legs ,I'Q rigidly held inassembl'edrelationship by suitable braces 20, the base l=0 being ia'stenedto the ley 21.

I of 280R. P. M. The co-shaft 24 carries a pulley 25 which is connected by a belt 26 to a drive pul- The latter has a pitchdiameter of sub- 'stantially nine and one-half inches and is secured on that end of the main drive shaft I! *which extends'beyond the adjacent end M of 1 the base; H). Asecond pulley 210 is alsofastened 1 on this end of the shaft I1 and is adapted to drive a hopper as'hereinafter described. The opposite 1 end of the main drive shaft I'l carries a fly wheel 28 which is designed to facilitate manual rotattion of the main drive shaft for making adjusti 1 ments of the spindles and transfer means.

Keyed to the main drive shaft 1 base it) is a drumcam 29' havinga peripheral} cam groove designed to receive the cam follower or roll 32 of a reciprocable head stock,--i'ndicated generally at 33. The latter comprises a carriage plate 34 having parallel bevelled edges 35 adapted to slidinglyengage beneath the eo 'operatingbevelled edges of 'suitablef'guides 36 lrwithinftneis provided with a screw threaded collar 59 at its outer or opposite end, whereby the shaft is secured against longitudinal movement in its bearings 56. A pulley 60 is fastened to the righthand end of the shaft 51, see Fig. 1, to drive the latter as hereinafter described.

At its opposite end of the shaft, the head 58 is aperturedvon'its longitudinal axis to receive a bushing 62 which is "secured'in the aperture by a set screw 63 or other suitable fastening means. The bushing 62 is adapted to receive a spindle. which may be fastened in the bushwhich arefixedlysecured'in spaced parallel re- 'lationship, on the top-surface or bed-31 of the f base 19.1 An oil cup 'may' be inser ted in 'each guide 36and connected by'a suitable passage to 7 Q the bevelled edges 35 of the carriage plate 34' to 3 provide lubrication therefor. The bed 31 of the base ID is scraped or'otherwise smoothly finished 1 to provide a surface on which the carriage" plate 1 @glmay reciprocate. 7 this enda substantially rectangular --boss is secured by bolts 39 or inithe bed 31. The engaging surfaces or Walls ofl the boss 38 and the aperture, may be lu- 3 biflgated by suitable oil cups and connecting oil passages. The boss 38 is provided with a sub- .stantially vertical aperture 43,. in the underside thereof adapted to receive the stem 4'4 of thecam roll or'follower 32, the stem 44 bcingsecured in theaperture d3 by ablefse curing' means.

akf orce fit or other suit- 34 hack and forth on the bed 31 of the ba se l0.

The? length of its'strols'efas determined by the. 'configuration ofjthe' cam groove iiil of tlredrum 2 o h r sent. em od ientlg s s bstant a y;

five sixteenth's of'aninch',

vAdjustably mounted. on

is suitably'secured at its lower endto the 'car- 'riage plate 35 and extends. upwardly substan tially verticallythrough the slot 46 of the foot meansof a screw, 58 which is rotatably supported.

'by a 'braeket 52 on the front end of the car- 'riage and threadedly engaged in a'tapped hole 53 inthe foot 41 ofthe head stockblockilE. "A knurledhead 54 on the screw 59 is provided to 'facilitate'manual adjustment.

'Thevertical uprights 55 of block are each provided with axially aligned aper;

tures to receive bearings 56 for rotatably supporting a spindle drive shaft 51 substantially parallel to the bed 31 v I i '51 has an upset head 5% at its inner end and of the base I ll. The shaft ji hl i'a f th dr team 291s rotated by rotation of 'the nain drive shaft H, the cam follower ;3;2 slides thecarriageplate top of the carriage plate 34 is the headstock per 'se comprising the" U-shaped' blockf having" a longitudinal slot 46 inits foot M to receive abolt 48. The latter the head "mg by a set screw, 55, the end of the spindle beingu'pset .to' provide arim 66 and a face 61,

see .5, which is made slightly concave and polishedsoas to make a nice fit with the head .ofia-primericup .to be trimmed. As the head stock .is moved forwardly on itsbed, the spindle '64, hereinafter termed the cup feeding spindle,

is adapted to engage a cup and move it onto a i second spindle as described beltiw.

As shown in Fig; -l,a substantially solid rectangularbearing block 68 is fastened by'bolts 68 on the opposite end of the bed 31 and is'provided with a longitudinal aperture to receive a pair of bearings 69. The latter are located at opposite ends 'of the aperture of the block 68 and are in axial alignment with the spindle "drive shaft 57. Rotatably mounted'in the bearings 89 i a second spindle drive shaft 10 :which isprovided with an upset head 12 at its inner end and a screw threaded collar '13 at its opposite end for securing the shaft 10'against' longitudinal displacement in its bearings 69. :The outer or left-hand end of the shaft"), see Fig. l, hasa pulley 14 fastened thereto, the pitch diameter ofwhich'is equal to that of thepulley 60. The head '12 is provided with an axial aperture to receive a bushing 15- whichis held in the aperturebyaset screw 16.

' Resiliently mounted in the b ushing- 'IE is lac portion 78 adapted to makea smooth sliding fit in the aperture 'ofth'e bushing and tU'abut' tIIe-end iof acoil spring 19 seated thereinyand a shank portion Bil of reduced diameter having a button '82 at' the end 'thereofi-the diameter and configuration of which correspond closely to the corresponding measurements of the'insid'e of a primer cup whereby a cup may seat tightly thereon.

-- ''The second spindle 8Q; hereinafter termed the cup supporting spindle, is held-in its'bushing against-the force of the coil spring 'l9 bymean's of a transverse pin83 secured in the 'shoulder'portion E8 of the pindle, the ends of the pin 83 being adapted to extend into longitudinal slots 84 formed on diametrically opposite sides of the bushing 15. '7 The lengthof each slot'84 is such as to enable limited displacement of the spindle 83 in its bushing.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 secured on the back face l2 of the base If) by bolts 85' is a spindle :drive motor 86 which, in the'presen't embodiment, :comprises a one-half horse power squirrel cage A. C. rnotor turning up 3450 R. P. M. The motor is provided with a pulley 81 of substantially three "inch pitch diameter which-is connected by a belt -88 to a pulley 89 of substantially six inch pitch diameter carried on a 'jack'shaft '90. Thelatter is'rotatably supported at its opposite 'ends in suitable bearings 92 of a pair of 'rearwardly extend- "in brackets93 secured 'by bolts 93* to the back "or the base 10.

Secured at each end of-the jack shaft is a pulley 94; each of substantially seven" inch' pitch 1 diameter and connected; by a.

.5 v belt-95 to one ofthe a ove described spindle pulleys 60 and I4 respectively. In accordance with this-construction, each spindle will be driven by the motor '86 at substantially the same speed. I Bolted to the top of the fixed bearing block 60 as; bracket 96- whichis bent upwardly at an angle to" the vertical-and Supports a circular plateS-l'at its-upper end comprising 'a. hopper bottom. A's'shown in Figs. 7 and 8,' the hopper per seis of the type described and illustrated in the Butler patent, No. 774,827 November 15, 1904, and compri ss'briefly'a drum -98 rotatably mounted upon an axle 09' which is secured in the geometrical center of the hopper bottom 31 substantially vertical to theplane thereof. The lower edge I of the drum 98 is serrated and spaced above the surface of the hopper bottom =91 a predetermined distance; and secured on the outer periphery of the drum adjacent its loweredge is a supplementary segregating ring member I02, the lower edge I03 of which is adapted to'ride on the surface of the hopper bottomandis provided with suitably shaped apertures to enable properly oriented primer cupsto escape from the'hopper as more fully described in the aforementioned patent. The cups are automatically fed through the apertures of the ring I02 by rotating the drum 98, the rotation o-f which is effected by means of a belt and pulley drive. To this end, a pair of spaced parallel pulleys I01 are supported by mean of a bracket I08 on the upper edge of the hopper bottom 91. A continuous belt I09 is provided which encircles the drum 98 and passes over the pulleys I01 and is driven by the pulley 21-0 of the main drive shaft H.

To facilitate the passage of the properly oriented cups through the apertures of the segregating ring I02, a relatively shallow circular groove I04 is formed in the hopper bottom, see

Figs. '7 and 8, directly beneath the lower edge I03 of the ring. The depth of the circular groove is 'not enough to enable improperly oriented cups to escape beneath the lower-edge of the segregating ring, "but facilitates the passage of properly ori- ,ented cups, and hence'insures more rapid and dependable delivery of cups to the trimming means. The properly oriented cups are collected on the outer edge of the hopper bottom by means ofa suitable circumferential closed passage, indicated generally at I 05, having an opening in the periphery thereof to enable the cups to flow downwardly therefrom into a tube I06 by which the cups are delivered to a suitable transfer means; Referring to Figs. and 6, the delivery tube I06 comprises two face plates I060 and I062 which are held apart by a, pair of substantially parallel longitudinal spacers [-063 and I064 which, -with the face plates, form an enclosed passage 'for the primer cups.

The transfer means is shown generally at H0 -in- Figs. 1 and 2 and in detail in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, and embodies a bracket member III having a substantially rectangular foot portion II2 which is secured by a pair of bolts II3 to the rear edge of the bed 31 at substantially the center thereof; The bracket member I I I is provided with an apertured boss H5 at its lower rearward edge to "receiver a pivot pin for the purpose hereinafter described. The upper portion of the bracket is relatively thick and constitutes a block H6 having a rectangular horizontally disposed guide groove "III in its outer face running the full length of the block I I6. Intersecting the groove I1I'l adjacent the rear end thereof is a substantially rectangular aperture II-8 which cuts through the loweredge 'theslide I.2& Substantially the upper half of the forward end of the transfer finger I25 is milled .or otherwise formed with a relatively thin upstanding .rib I26; having horizontally disposed shoulders I21 on opposite sides of the finger. The end of the rib I26 is cut back from the forward end of the finger I25 as at I28 to provide an arcuate surface defining substantially a onequarter circle, the upper edge of which terminates in a substantially horizontal step I29 formed in the forward edge of the rib I26. The forward end of the transfer finger I25 isbifurcated as at I30, see Fig. 5, and provided'with a transverse hole for a pivot pin I32 which is adapted to pivotally support a dog I33 in the slot I30. The dog I33 has a depending heel portion I34 which is adapted to be engaged by the end of leaf spring I35 riveted or otherwise fastened on the underside of the transfer finger whereby the :dog is normally urged in a clockwise direction, see Figs. '4 and 6. The dog I33 is provided with an arcuate surface I36 which defines a substantially one-quarter circle adapted to complement the arcuate surface I 28 of the transfer finger when the dog is in its normal position to provide a jaw indicated by the numeral I330 for gripping the primer cups. The geometrical center of the jaw I330 is adapted to lie in the horizontal plane of the spindles 64 and 80 whereby the jaw intersects the path of movement of the reciprocating spindles when the jaw is moved into its advanced position as hereinafter described.

Referring to Fig. 2, the slide I20 is held in the guide groove II! of the bracket block II 6 by means of a substantially rectangular retaining plate 131 secured by screws to the outer face of the block I I6; and is adapted to be reciprocated therein by means of the rock arm I38 of a bell crank lever I33 which, asshown in'Fig, 2, is pivotvally'supported by a pin I40 inthe apertured boss I I5 of the bracket III. The end of the rock arm I38 extends upwardly through-the rectangular aperture N8 of the guide groove II! and makes an articulative connection with the rectangular aperture I22 of the slide I20 to impart reciprocating movement to the latter as the arm I38 is escillated.

The rock arm I38 is oscillated by means of a plate cam I42 which is keyed or otherwise fastened to the main drive shaft I I and which is engaged by the cam follower I43 of an armI44 1 of an inch. I

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the lower end of the hopper distributing chute I06 is supported ad jacent the transferfinger I25 of the" reciprocatp of the groove III and forms a depression-"H 9 in the vertical wall thereofl I H6. The outer reach of the bracket l liiihasan 1 upstanding. flange I49 adapted to provideraifixed 1 support for the chutelfifi to whichthe latter is .;'secured by'screws I50. I Referring to Figs; 5 and 6,

the lower end ofthe chute I06 comprises the twov spaced parallel: side I21; and'the lower ends of the spacers I063 and IIIB4: "The ends of the-spacers I063 and I064,

'see Figs. {1 and 6, are adaptedto have substantially, slidingiengagementwith the upper edge of the rib I26 and are spacedfrom the step I29 3 .a distance somewhat less than the, diameter of a cup.

As shown in Fig. 4, when the transfer finger ing slide I by means of a bracket I48,,one;end I bf. which is bolted to the topof-the bracket; block 1 plates I060 and I062 which are adapted to. slid- I "ingly engage on opposite sides oftherib I26 of the transfer finger I and to extend downwardly j on opposite sides thereofadjacent the shoulders I25 is in its advanced position, its jaw I330-holds a primer between the faces of the two spindles 64'and 80 and in axial alignment therewith. In

3 this position of the transfer finger, the delivery chute passage opens onto'the step I29 of the transfer finger 'I25whe-reby a primer cup is de- 1 rlivered by gravity onto the step I29 on which it isconfined in a positionopposite the lower end of the chute passage by the adjacent surfaces of the sideplates I060 and I062 of the chute and the adjacent ends of the two spacers I063 and I064 until the transfer finger I28 is retracted to I itsnormal position, as shown in Fig. 6. 1 In its normal or retracted position, the jaw I330 is substantially opposite the end of the de- 1 livery chute passage, and hence the primer held thereat,-as described above, is enabledrto drop down into the cavity of the jaw, the latter being opened slightly to receive the cup due to the .40

weight of the column of cups acting thereon. The

- cup is thereupon clamped in-the jaw. and carried forwardly to its advanced position by the reciproeating slide I26. As the jaw moves away from-the -open end of the passage, the next succeeding cups f drop down onto the step I29. I I clear that the primer cups are controlled and held 1 inproperly' oriented position by confining them "in ia-substanti'ally-closed passage from'th'e time they are delivered into the delivery chute until.

theyare received in the jaw of, the transfer slide.

Substantially opposite the primer cup transfer jaw and on the front edge of the bed 31 is a tool holder, see Figs. 1a and 3, comprising a substantially rectangular block I52 having a foot I53 provided with vertical holes to receive a bolt I54 .anda pair of dowels for se'curing'the tool holder to the bed 31; A substantially rectangular groove I 55 is formed in the top of the tool holding block I52 to receive the tool I56; the latter being secured in a predetermined position in its slot by means of a cover clamp I51. :One edge of the clamp is adapted to fulcrum on the top of the p block "I52 while the other edge ofthe cover is ,made to"bear' downforciblyon the top of the tool by means of a bolt I58, secured in the block andextending loosely through an aperture in i the cover 15?; and-a nut I59'which'is threaded e on the end of the bolt: and adapted to draw the f cover 'clamp down on the tool: 1 a

i -As shown in Figs. 3 and 3a,- the cutting edge of the fixed tool I56 is located slightly to the rear or left of the button 82 of the cup supp rting It will thus be wthe-cutting 'edge of the fixed blade I56;a sl;thle V spindle 80, the latter being slidable rearwardly I I or to the left by the feed spindle-64 ashereinafter describedto support the cup andto frictionally trough-shaped member which may the spindle button 82. 1

. i8 ro a e, nio o en end; a a n t e "c n .edsevofflthe fix dh da. :Beneath h 112. l 5 an arranged a a .of ub t n a y 21s.? ec a a ape ture I5,"-

whichisformed on a diagonal from the ward left-hand corner of; the b1001$5 |52 :to its-rear right;- h ndwrn n't ar nof he ap r u e. define by therearleftehand corner oftheblo being open. The aperture I,60 is designed-V a discharge chute I62 for discharging th cups and shavingsfrom the} spindles The chute is a substantiallyhave a cover and is adapted to be supported at its forward end in the aperture IIiU of the tool holding block. The forward end of'the trough is provided with an end wall I63 and is bent at-a suitable 'anglesuch that the walled endofthe trough extends in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of; the spindles and lies directly beneath the cutting edge of the tool I56. 1

, Referring to Figs. 1, l and 6,; stripping means I are provided for positively removing a trimmed cut from the rotatably mounted cup supporting spindle 80'and comprise a claw-shaped plate ,l 6 4 supported so as to closely embrace substantially 130 of the'periphery of the button 82' of t e spindle 60. To this end the stripper plate I64 is supported in a substantially vertical plane transverse to the longitudinalaxes of thespindles by the overhanging end of a bar I65 which is secured at its rear end by boltsor screws I66 to the top edge of the upstanding members I of the reciprocating headstock 4 5, the bar I being bent so as to position the stripper claw properly with respectto the button 82. Furthermore,- that face I6'Iof' the claw which engages the rim of the cup to strip it from the spindle isadapted to be moved longitudinallysubstantially. into line with or slightly to theleft 01? spindle-64 advances the cup into engagement with the cutter blade whereby onthesubsequent return movement of the head stock and spindle t e, r n aw W l engage t e rim o i/ e trimmed. cup and positively draw the-cup off of To; prevent the stripped cupifrom springing up and becoming jammed between the spindles o relatively high speed.. on starting, the hopper is rotated and feeds the primercups to therdelivery chute I06 while the head stock 45 and its rotating spindle 64 begin 1 to reciprocate, rapidly longitudinally of the bed 31 of the machine.

Simultaneouslmthe slide I20 and its-transfer jaw I 33B-are reciprocated at substantially right. angles to the longitudinal axis of the spindles..

Thecycles of operation of the reciprocating feed'spindle 64 and-transfer jaw arefindicated in Fig. 9. At position -0 and reading against the arrow, the spindle 64 is in its retracted positionfor substantially fl'l" of the cycle of the drum cam. During this time, the transfer jaw is moving: from its retracted position to i'ts; advanced .P9 9, th awm n h 'enMIiii' strok in the-,directionipfthespindles, the spindle-64 begins to advance.followingzashort dwell of substantiallylS-Ti-n its; retracted position and'continues to advance while the transfer jaw'remains in itsadvanced position duringadwell of 25 cycle of the plate cam. Since the jaw I330 is mounted soas to'intersectthe path of movement of the spindle 64, the latter'will pass through thejaw thereby engaging a cup therein and moving it out ofthe jaw onto-the button 82' of the spindle 80. Immediately thereafter, the transfer finger begins its return movement to normal position. The dog I33 of the jaw I330 being pivotally supported by. the leaf spring in the slot I36 in theforward end of the transf-erfinger -IZE is. enabled-to swing outwardly and downwardly when. it engages the spindle 64 so as to clear the spindle as the transfer finger is retracted. The transfer jaw reaches its rearmost position substantially 80 of the cam cycle and thereafter it dwells in' this position. for the remainder of the cycle. This relativelylong dwell is necessary'to insure a cup being fed by gravity from the delivery chute I66 into the resilient jaw as described above.

In the meantime, the spindle 64 has pushed a cup firmly against the button 82 of the rotating spindle 80, whereupon the cap is frictionally engaged between the two spindles and rotated there by at substantially the same speed. Moreover, the feed spindle 64 continues to advance and to move the cup and its supporting spindle 80 againstthe restraining force of the coil spring mounting of the latter a predetermined distance with respect to the fixed blade I56. This predetermined distance is determined by the stroke of the reciprocating carriage and the adjustment of the head stock with respect thereto. The rim or open end of the cup is thus brought against the fixed blade I56 which turns down or cuts the rim with a substantially spiral cut until the overall length of the cup is exactly equal to the distance between the cutting edge of the fixed blade and the face 61 of the feed spindle 64 when the latter is in its foremost position.

It will be evident that, in accordance with this method and means of supporting the cup and moving it into engagement with the fixed cutter blad. the overall length of the trimmed cup is independent of the thickness of the metal forming the head of the cup. After the cutting or trimminrz operation has been completed, the cup is held a ainst the fixed blade for a short periodof substantially 45 of the cycle of the drum cam during which time any irregularities of the spiral cut are eliminated and the edge or rim of the cup are rendered absolutely square and true. Thereafter, the spindle 64 is returned to its normal or retracted position simultaneously moving the face I61 of the stripper claw I64 against the trimmed edge of the cup thereby positively stripping the cup oil of the spindle button 82. The strip ed cup thereupon falls or is deflected by the bevelled surface I 68 into the discharge chute or trough I62.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for trimming cup-shaped articles comprising rotatable article supporting means; rotatable means mounted to reciprocate in a path in axial alignment with said supporting means to feed an article thereon and to frictionally engage the article therewith; means for positively rotating said article supporting means and the article feeding means at substantially the same speed; a blade; drive means adapted to move the supsaid blade to carry the article into engagement ring a cup into the path of movement of said.

therewith; and means carried, by said feeding means constructed and arranged to strip a trimmed article oil" of said. supporting means.

2: A machine for trimming, cup-shaped articles comprising rotatable article" supporting means; rotatable means mounted to reciprocate in a: path in axial alignment with said supporting means" to feed an article thereon and to. frictionally engage the article therewith; means for positively rotating said article supportingv meansand the article feeding. means at substantially the same speed; a blade; drive means adapted to move the supporting means and feeding means longitudinallysimultaneously in. the same direction and toward said blade'to carry the article into engagement therewith; means. carried by said feeding means constructed and arranged to strip a. trimmed. articleoff of .said' supporting means; and guide means mounted onsaid .stripper means to deflect the trirmned'articles away from said article supporting. andfeeding: means. i

3.. A, machine for trimming. primer cups c.om

prising a base; a rotatable spindle resiliently mounted on said base; a second rotatable spindle in axial alignment with said first spindle and constructed and arranged to be moved toward and away from said first spindle; means for transfersecond spindle; a fixed blade; means for rotating said first and second spindles at substantially uniform speed; means for advancing said second spindle against said cup to move said cup onto said first spindle and to frictionally'engage said cup between said first and second spindles whereby said cup is rotated therewith, said spindle advancing means being adapted to move said spindles and cup a predetermined distance relative to said blade against the resilient mounting of said first spindle whereby the rim of said cup is brought into engagement with said blade; and means carried by said spindle advancing means to strip the trimmed cups from said first spindle when said second spindle is retracted.

4. A machine for trimming primer cups comprising a base; a rotatable spindle resiliently mounted on said base; a second rotatable spindle in axial alignment with said first spindle and constructed and arranged to be moved toward and away from said first spindle; means for transferring a cup into the path of movement of said second spindle; a fixed blade; means for rotating said first and second spindles at substantially uniform speed; means for advancing said second spindle against said cup to move said cup onto said first spindle and to frictionally engage said cup between said first and second spindles whereby said cup is rotated therewith, said spindle advancing means being adapted to move said spindles and cup a predetermined distance relative to said blade against the resilient mounting of said first spindle whereby the rim of said cup is brought into engagement with said blade; means carried by said spindle advancing means to strip the trimmed cups from said first spindle. when said second spindle is retracted; and a bevelledsurface mounted on said stripper means to deflect the stripped cup out of the path of said spindles.

5. A machine for trimming cup-shaped articles comprising a pair of rotatable shafts; a spindle fixedly secured in one shaft; a spindle resiliently l'mountedin the second shaft; movable'mea'ns' to support the first shaft in axial alignment with {the second shaft; means to positively rotate said j'first and second shafts at substantially the same speed; means to transfer a cup into axial align- Imentwith the adjacent endsof said spindles a stationary blade; and means to displace the movablesupporting means of said first shaft to ads vance its spindle longitudinally towards the spindle of the second shaft thereby to move a cup onto the end of said secondspindle and frictionally engage the closed end of thecup between the adjacent ends of the spindles to rotate said cup therewith, said shaft advancing means being 3 arranged to move said spindles and the cup engaged therebetween a predetermined distance againstthe force of the resilient mounting means 1 ofsaid second spindle to move the edge of the cup against said stationary-blade so as to trim the wall of thecup to a predetermined'height.

V '6. A machine for trimming cup-shaped articles comprising a pair of rotatable shafts; a spindle fixedlysec'ured in one shaft; a spindle resiliently mounted in the second shaft; movable means to 1' support the .firstshaft in axial alignment with the'second shaft;

ment with the adjacentends of said "spindles;- a stationary blade; means to displace the movable supporting means of said first shaft to advance its spindle longitudinally towardsthe spindle of the second shaft thereby to move a cup onto the 7 trimmed cup from said resiliently mounted I spindle and a chute fixedly supported beneath said stationary blade to discharge'the trimmed cups stripped from said resiliently mounted spindle.

WARREN S. REYNOLDS.

means to positively rotate said a first and second shafts at substantially the same speed; means to transfer a'cup into axial align- 

